Vol. 440 No. 5
96 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education her views on whether the student maintenance grants are adequate in view of the emerging evidence of the difficulties which students are facing; and if she will increase these grants.
The Government has already agreed the following improvements in the student support arrangements for 1994: income limits to be increased in line with the increase in the average industrial wage; maintenance grants to be increased in line with inflation, and a discretionary budget to set up a hardship fund with the third level institutions.
It is also intended to review the income limits and the maintenance grants on an annual basis in the light of prevailing budgetary circumstances.
